IN CELEBRATION OF TEN YEARS


GREATMORE STUDIOS / IN CELEBRATION OF TEN YEARS

AN ART STUDIO GROWS IN WOODSTOCK
10 years grown and Greatmore Studios is still in the business of advancing art making in the surrounding communities, converging professional artists from different backgrounds to exchange ideas and skills in a sympathetic environment. The vision has always been simple-work and art is privileged with special value placed on the unique imprint each artist brings to the studios. The experience offered is less structured and rigid, and more like a matrix of ideas, personalities and raw talent .This is a collective of hard working artists, many of whom have chosen to share their professional and personal lives with each other. 2008 finds Greatmore Studios particularly proud to be recognised as an enduring and resilient space,- despite the many challenges of a cruel industry, it has still maintained its footing. Home to a diverse group of local and international artists, the environment at the studios continues to inspire courage and strength- artists daily take ownership of their careers, investing their lives into art making.
At this juncture in its history, the artists and committee at Greatmore feel it is appropriate to rethink and re-engage the values, identity and ethos of this network. With increasing talk of national transformation, the artists have seen it as their responsibility to seriously locate themselves and their role in a larger cultural landscape, negotiating new ways of looking and making art in a communal space. In an attempt to be more inclusive and progressive, the trustees and Friends of Greatmore Studios have seriously considered the possibilities of expanding the current holding capacity of artists-please keep posted to the website throughout the year for further information about plans to redevelop the existing studios. On its birthday Greatmore Studios is proud of the South African artists taking up residency at the studios. Displaying a range of experience, we recognise them as the true creative pulse of the city. Here are men and women who actively pursue their chosen careers with professionalism, whilst making a meaningful impact in the local community. Indeed 2008 is recognised at the studios as a year of new possibilities. We welcome you on this special journey of refection and a graceful entry into a new era in our history.
IN PREPARATION OF A TENTH YEAR ANNIVERSARY RAFFLE 2008 finds Greatmore Studios celebrating its tenth anniversary. To celebrate and reflect on the extraordinary impact that the studios and Thupelo Cape Town have had in the community, in Southern Africa and abroad, the board of Greatmore Studios have proposed to host a raffle draw. For the raffle to be realised, artists who have been identified for their important contributions to contemporary art making in South Africa have been asked to donate a work on paper, less than 100 x 70 cm in size, in any medium; print, painting, photography or digital. Tickets will be sold for R1600 or £100 pounds each, with the hope that each ticket holder will receive a work of art. Greatmore Studios has already received commitments from many artists, including some of the internationally known SA artists. Artists who feel affiliated with the studios and its various projects, and would like to share in this occasion are asked to contact the studio for more information. The funds raised from this initiative will go towards an ongoing development project at the studios. Artwork must be submitted for inclusion in this special raffle by the end of July 2008 from which time it will be documented. Artists and members of the community are invited to join us at the studios on 14 November 2008 for a day long celebration to mark our tenth anniversary, there will also be an accompanying raffle draw. Artists working in Johannesburg are encouraged to drop off work at the Bag Factory (www.bagfactoryart.org.za) in Newtown Johannesburg (10 Mahlatini Street, Fordsburg ) with either James French or Phillip, while artists working in the Eastern Cape are encouraged to drop off work at the Ann Bryant Gallery at 9 St Marks Road, Belgravia, East London . For further queries please contact Mishkaah Roberts or Tambudzai Sibanda at the studios.


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